Internal combustion engine



Nov. 19, 1935. R MOORE 2,021,262

. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed 001;. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l J50 @617 L5: Jfoore,

Nov. 19, 1935. R. s. MOORE 2,021,262

INTERNAL COMBUSTI ON ENGINE Filed Oct. 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jflaberf Sifoore,

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to an engine wherein the cylinders are disposed radially to the main actuating shaft.

An object of the invention is to provide an engine of the above type having four or more cylinders wherein the operating parts for actuating the shaft are so constructed and arranged that the cylinders may be operated in a successive order.

A further object of the invention is to provide an engine of the above type wherein there is an auxiliary shaft associated with each cylinder and geared to the main actuating shaft for operating the same, and wherein the engine is so constructed that the auxiliary shafts may be placed relatively close to the center of the main actuating shaft and the cylinders operated in successive order without any interference between the operating cranks in the auxiliary shafts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an engine of the above type wherein the cranks in the auxiliary shafts are so constructed and arranged thattheir paths of rotation over lap without interfering with one another.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing an engine embodying the. improvements;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section through the engine, said section extending longitudinally of the actuating shaft;

Fig. 3 is a detail in side view showingthe arrangement of the gears carried by the auxiliary shafts which impart rotation to the'main actuatingshaft, and

Fig. 4 is a detail showing adjacent cranks and the construction of the same which permits their paths of rotation to intersect without interference between the cranks.

The invention has to do with an internal combustion engine of the type wherein there is a central casing in-which is mounted a main actuating shaft. Carried by this central casing is a plurality of radially disposed cylinders. As illustrated, there are eight cylinders. In each cylinder is a reciprocating piston to which the piston rod is connected, and associated with each cylinder is an auxiliary shaft mounted in suitable bearings carried by the casing. There is a gear carried by each auxiliary shaft, and the gears mesh with the gear carried by the main actuating shaft. The gears are preferably so timed that the main actuating shaft will rotate once for two rotations of the gears carried by the auxiliary shafts. In each auxiliary shaft is a crank to which the piston rod is connected. 5 These cranks are so constructed that their paths of rotation may intersect. This enables the auxiliary shafts to be placed relatively close to the main actuating shaft, and transmitting gears of relatively small dimensions used. It also en- 10 ables a relatively large number of cylinders to be used, the axes of which are all arranged in a single plane and without any conflict between the rotating cranks. Associated with each cylinder are valves and valve tappets, and these 15 are operated from a cam on the main actuating shaft. A single cam may be used for all of the tappets, as the cylinders are fired in one, two,

three order, that is, a successive order, and the shaft is rotated once for two reciprocations of the piston in each cylinder.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in an internal combustion engine which includes a main crank casing I of any suitabledesign. It is shown in 25 the drawings as having a; bearing 2 at one side thereof through which extends the main actuating shaft 3. Mounted on the crank casing are eight cylinders, numbered respectively, 4, 5, 6, 1,1, 9, lland l I.. These cylinders are radially 30 disposed, thatis, their longitudinal axes intersect the axis of the main actuating shaft. These longitudinal axes of the several cylinders all lie in a single plane which cuts the actuating shaft at right angles. The cylinders may be mounted in any suitable way on the crank casing, and detail description thereofzfis not thought necessary. In each cylinder is a piston 12 and a piston rod l3 which is attached to the piston.

The crank casing is proyided with webs H and 40 it. Mounted in suitable hearings in these webs is an auxiliary shaft it, and there is an auxiliary shaft associated with each cylinder. The bearings for the auxiliary shaft are indicated at I! and It. The auxiliary shaft is provided with a crank which is of novel construction. The crank consists of a crank pin is which is carried by laterally spaced arms 20, 2| which are extended so as to provide counterbalancing members 21. 22. These arms are so constructed that the paths of reciprocation of the cranks may intersect without conflict between the cranks, if they are properly timed. In other words, shown in Fig. 4, the lower crank pin ll passes tween the arms 20 and II and the counterbalancing members 22, 22 without conflict therewith.

Each auxiliary shaft IO carries a gear wheel 23, and these gear wheels of the auxiliary shaft mesh with a gear wheel 24 mounted on a sleeve II ing shaft will be rotated once for two reciprocations of the pistons in each cylinder; in a fourcycle engine, it will rotate once for each firing of the cylinders, the cylinders being operated in one, two, three order, or in a successive order, as above noted.

In these webs n and n are also ball bearings 26 and 21 for the main actuating shaft: Associated with each cylinder are intake and exhaust ports. They are located in the head or outer end of the cylinder, and each port is controlled by a valve. As shown, there are two intake. valves and one exhaust valve. The intake valves are indicated at 28. A rocket 29 is associated with the intake valves and is operated by a push rod 3| cooperating with a tappet 3| contacting with the-control cam 32 carried by the main actuating shaft. A valve -for the exhaust port is indicated at rand this is operated by a rocket 34 actuated by a push rod 35 and a tappet I which bears on the control cam 32. This control cam has one cam projection only which operates in succession for controlling the intake valves, and one projection operating in succession on the exhaust valve. The operating cam pro-,

iection is so shaped that the intakes will be opened in proper timing for the suction stroke of the cylinders and, the exhaust valve will be opened in proper timing for the exhausting of the burnt gases from the cylinders. This control cam ope'rates in succession on the valves of the cylinders, or in a one, two, three order, so that each cylinder will operate in succession to receive, compress and ilre'its charge.

It will be noted that in the construction 'as shown in Fig. 1, the cylinders 4 and I are opposed to each other, and therefore, their cranks, when the cylinders are operated in succession, will be on their extreme throws away from the center of the casing at the same time, and they will likewise be on' their extreme inner throws. at the same time, as is evidenced by the piston of the cranks associated with the cylinders 6 and II. It will also be noted that the cylinders 5 and i have their cranks midway between the extremes of its throw toward and away from the center of the casing, and the same is true of the cylinders 'i and ii. This provides a very emcient counterbalancing of all of the actuating parts, so that 1 there is little or no resulting vibration incident to the reciprocating pistons; the pull or push of one piston is counterbalanced by the one which is diametrically opposed thereto.

, As noted above, the auxiliary shafts are so disadjacent cranks overlap.

posed that the paths of rotation of the cranks intersect, and yet, there is no conflict between the cranks, as one crank between the arms of its adjacent crank. This permits the use of a relatively small actuating gear on the main 5 shaft, and the bringing of the auxiliary shafts in, comparatively close to the center of the crank casing, It,also permits of the use of four, six, eight or more cylinders, if desired, without any conflict between the cranks, whileall of the cylo inders are placed with their longitudinalaxes in the same plane. This engine readily adapts itself for being built in units and placed side by side until a combined wilt of unlimited power may be created. It is obv ous that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the in vention as set forth in the appended Having thus described the inventiom-what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a casing, radially dispom cylinders carried thereby and having their longitudinal axes disposed in a single plane, a piston in each cylinder, a main actuating shaft disposedcentraliy of the casing,

an auxiliary shaft associated with each cylinder and geared to said main shaft, each auxiliary 3 shaft having a crank including spaced arms and a connecting crank pin, said arms being inclined toward each other so that the distance between the outer faces of the arms at the axis of the crank is less than the distance between the inner faces of the arms at the axisof the shaft so that the crank pin on one crank shaft can pass between the arms of an adjacent crank and the auxiliary shafts disposed so that the paths of rotation of adjacent cranks overlap. 40 2. An internal combustion engine comprising a casing, radially disposed cylinders carried thereby and having-their longitudinal axes disposed in a single plane, a piston in each cylinder, 0. main actuating shaft disposed centrally of the casing, an auxiliary shaft associated with each cylinder and geared to said main shaft, each auxiliary shaft having a crank including spaced arms and a connecting crank pin, said being extended to the opposite side of the axis of the auxiliaryshaftfromthecrankpinand servingasa counterbalance. therefor, said arms being. inclined toward each other from the axis of the shaft to the crank pin so that the distance between the outer faces of the arms at the axis of the crank is less than the distance between the innerfaccs ofthearmsattheaxisoftheshaft and less than the distance between the inner faces of the extensions, so that a crank pin on one crank shaft can pass between the arms and e'xtensions of an adjacent crank and the auxiliary shafts disposed so that the paths of rotation of ROBERT s. moons. 

